Beauty and the beast, pleasure and pain, the ultimate mount for a BF2 jet pilot. Carrying a devastating loadout of weaponry, the Harrier in the hands of a good pilot will win any dogfight hands down due to their superior maneuverability. But beware, they can be unforgiving to an unskilled pilot who may suddenly find himself painted all over the nearest hill. The British invented the original Harrier, licensed it to the US who improved on it and built it into the AV-8B, which impressed the British enough to license the new technology back as their own GR.7 version. Want to win? Choose the Harrier.

F-117a Nighthawk

The Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk is a stealth ground attack aircraft operated solely by the United States Air Force. As a product of the Lockheed Have Blue stealth prototype program, it became the first operational aircraft initially designed around stealth technology. Designed for ground pounding missions, the f117a has little hope in an air to air engagement but relies on stealth as a means to survive.

AH-64 Apache

The Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) AH-64A Apache is the Army's primary attack helicopter. It is a quick-reacting, airborne weapon system that can fight close and deep to destroy, disrupt, or delay enemy forces. The Apache is designed to fight and survive during the day, night, and in adverse weather throughout the world. The principal mission of the Apache is the destruction of high-value targets with the HELLFIRE missile. Both tough and devestating, the apache when used to it's full potential is a perfect example of why the USMC has the cutting edge on the battlefield.

A note on the JASSM (Joint Attack Strategic Standoff Missile) carried by the F-16LG - this is an autonomous intelligent form of cruise missile, meaning that it can be fired without a lock. It will slowly climb until it detects a target, at which point it will home in. If the target is destroyed by another means, the JASSM will resume its climb/seek behaviour until it expends its fuel and self-detonates. It may be tempting to fire these off randomly, hoping for spam kills, but be warned - the JASSM is a greedy missile, and if none of the enemy make a valid target, then one of your own will do. Best used with care! The AIX JASSM flies much slower than the real one, has a gaudy paint job, and emits a beeping noise to alert any potential victims. Why? Because it has one of the largest explosion radii and does more damage than any other airborne payload. Hear beeping? Get out and run.

Both F-16 types carry sidewinders for air defence.

General Dynamics F-16 / F-16LG Falcon

The F-16 was a very successful attempt at producing a light low-cost fighter that could hold its own in any role, and there wouldn't be an aircraft enthusiast alive who doesn't instantly recognise its distinctive shape - the wing/fuselage blending, bubble canopy, and the yawning chin intake. AIX's has been upgraded a little from its Allied Intent form, and comes in two variants - the basic F-16, which carries a pair of iron bombs and two rocket pods.

The F-16LG - not an official name, purely so players can tell them apart, as if the LG's JASSMs weren't enough - carries only laser-guided weapons for ground attack, although their cannon can still chew up any enemy that the laser weapons cannot lock.

F16 LG

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Notar Littlebird (Attack Variant)

NOTAR, an acronym for NO TAil Rotor, is a relatively new helicopter anti-torque system. Fitted with twin miniguns, dual hydra pods and incredible agility, the Notar is capable of out-maneuvering all other combat heli's in the sky. Its weaknesses come in the form of a relatively low armour count, but makes up for it in spades for getting into tight spaces fast.

There is also a transport version of the Notar with side bars for inserting up to 5 combat ready troops deep within enemy lines. This fast method of troop insertion is an excellent tactic for capturing areas quickly and quietly to provide forward command posts for the rest of the team.

Fairchild A-10 'Warthog'

A unique solution to the ground-support question, the Thunderbolt II - otherwise known as the Warthog - was basically designed around its Avenger cannon, but also carries Maverick missiles, bombs, heatseekers, and Hydra rockets. In the interests of fairness to the opposing armies, the AIX A-10 is not quite the 'flying tank' like its real life counterpart, but it certainly has very large teeth. It is manoeverable enough to bite back when threatened in the air too, so don't be fooled by its 'ground attack' label.